2024 Programme

Health and care in the digital field of tension: Smart technologies, AI and robots have the potential to provide the answer to the challenges of the shortage of skilled workers and an aging society. But what about the social acceptance of a health and care system that is kept running less by people and more by machines and technology?

Dr. Sara Warneke, Managing Director of gfu Consumer & Home Electronics, and Dr. Martin Schulte, Global Sector Leader Consumer Durables at the strategy consultancy Oliver Wyman, will present the results of an international survey on the use of smart technologies in health and care. Afterwards you will discuss with:

• Constanze Büchner, CEO of CrewLinQ, a start-up that has developed a digital solution for outage management in the health and care sector
• David Reger, CEO of Neura Robotics, a high-tech company from Germany that develops and manufactures collaborative robots with cognitive capabilities that work with humans.
• Dr. med. Tobias Glaunsinger, a specialist in general medicine and infectiology from Berlin Prenzlauer Berg, who meets the challenges of digitization in the healthcare system on a daily basis.

Important note: Panel language: German - English subtitles available

David Reger will shed light on how cognitive robots can revolutionize the job market and free humanity from monotonous and dangerous tasks. With the ability to perceive their environment, act autonomously and learn from experience, these robots represent a significant step forward. Reger will demonstrate how NEURA Robotics' technologies, including the world's first cognitive robot MAiRA, offer innovative solutions for automation that free humans and promote creative, meaningful work.

Brought to you by W-Lounge, founded by Mali Baum who is chairing the ifa next advisory board, we are proud to announce the panel discussion, "The Way We Live, The Way We Work - Smart Cities and Sustainable Real Estate," scheduled for Sunday, September 8, 2024, starting at 10:45 AM. The panel will be moderated by Laurelie Martin, CEO of UnitedShare. Our distinguished guests include Daniel Müller, Venture Manager at Bosch Digital; Nikita Roshkow, CEO of AHOY; and Nils Wagner, CEO of New Ventures at REHAU. This session will explore the future of urban living and sustainable development in real estate.

Withings has been shaking up the consumer health space. The company has created an ecosystem of home health products - from smart scales to watches - to help us live longer, keep healthy weight, and detect potential health issues early on. In this talk, Withings COO Sophie Bernard will share her insights into the importance of prevention over treatment, small lifestyle changes and her personal health journey.

Join us for an exciting global pitch battle featuring cutting-edge hardware for Emerging Consumer Tech startups. Watch as innovative companies compete head-to-head, showcasing breakthrough solutions that redefine the future of technology.  Understanding next-gen consumer gadgets, this event brings together world-changing ideas from around the globe. Don’t miss out on the grand finale where one visionary startup will emerge as the ultimate winner. Tune in and witness the future of hardware unfold!

The list selected by The Factory Network:
FYTA
kikaGO
PLAUD.AI
TheLittleCat
ViXion

Only three finalists will go head-to-head.  

Meet our esteemed panel of judges, which includes industry leaders, tech visionaries, and investment experts who will evaluate the pitches and steer our audiences’ opinion:

Stefanie Trapl: Expert in launching premium brands, Stefanie is passionate about consumer electronics and market strategy.
Robert Kopka: Founder of StartMatch.ai, Robert excels in simplifying grant applications for startups and mentoring entrepreneurs.
Mark Caffrey: CEO of Syntropic Medical, Mark is advancing neurostimulation techniques for psychiatric disorders.
Niklas Spichalsky: Business angel and founder, Niklas is focused on leveraging technology to transform markets.
David Weng: Leading expert in sports IoT, Ming-Che is pioneering RTLS total solutions.
Heather Swift Hunt: Heather empowers hardware startups and creators worldwide, having guided thousands at Kickstarter.
Peter Machona: CTO of HeySalad, Peter drives innovation at the intersection of technology and agriculture.
Olga Lysak: A multilingual leader and AI enthusiast, Olga manages Lemberg Solutions' Hamburg office and drives charitable initiatives.
Stefanie Koch: With 15+ years in hardware and software, Stefanie excels in sustainable product design for a circular economy.